adminSifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
Zimbabwe and France have expressed willingness to join in a programme for the conservation and preservation of the country’s priceless pre-historic rock art.
French ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Laurent Delahousse, told The Herald on the sidelines of the just-ended Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA) conference, which was held at the University of Zimbabwe that discussions were underway to establish a project for the conservation and preservation of ancient rock art.
“Zimbabwe has some of the best rock art in the world that need support for preservation and promotion of rock art tourism,” he said.
“We are still discussing the modalities for the support with the responsible authorities (National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe). Its still an idea, its still in the early stages of our thinking.”
In 2003, France injected more than 30 000 euros ($28,5 million) towards the restoration of the Khami Monuments, a historical site located 22km west of Bulawayo recognised as a World Heritage Site.
Zimbabwe has more than 15 000 rock art and engraving sites of which many are unique to the country with little or no other examples found in the rest of Southern Africa.
Archaeologists now fear that if nothing is done, the country’s pre-historic art will be destroyed or damaged by fire, graffiti sprayers or people carving in their initials through various acts of vandalism.
The highest concentrations of rock art are found at Matopo Hills in southern Zimbabwe, Domboshava Caves and other rocks and caves dotted around the country.
A tableau of paintings and carvings at the Matopo Hills are classified by Unesco as of outstanding universal value, something that earned the site — the World Heritage Site status.
“We welcome efforts that target to preserve, restore and conserve our priceless ancient rock art,” said an archaeologist attending the ASAPA conference.
“Implementing a conservation programme for the preservation of rock art is critical particularly now when human encroachment has put most sites in danger.’
Some archaeological sites in Zimbabwe have in the past been subjected to damage not only by misguided individuals, but also, by mining and human development activities.
Such practices have, in some cases, obliterated or damaged rock art sites.
Apart from vandalism, pre-historic rock art sites have suffered greatly from erosion and lichen growth.
Some of the caves on the sites contain large paintings which are in particular danger because water percolates through the cave ceilings.
The resulting moisture encourages the formation of a variety of mosses and other growths.
“We need more educational awareness campaigns as our main way of getting this message across about these culturally significant areas which need local community participation to save them from vandalism and other human activities,” said a conference participant.
Rock art is part of the archaeological record and has the potential to illuminate many parts of a culture of the ancient people that once inhabited Zimbabwe.
Archaeologists say it can tell people about belief and ideology, myth and cosmography as well as reveal time, place of origin, spheres of influence and aspects of social organisation.
They say it is an irreplaceable cultural resource which requires urgent attention for protection and preservation.
“There are growing threats to rock art sites from developments, vandalism and damage from the sun, rain and wind processes,” said an archaeologist.
“Rock art paintings are central, tangible aspects of our Zimbabwean culture and we need programmes that can address the threats.”
Domboshava Caves were vandalised using paint to obliterate paintings in May 1998 and the incident was reported by law enforcement agents to National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) while in 1965 the Pomongwe cave in the Matopos was damaged by an application of linseed oil around 1965.
Other sites both on private and state land, archaeologists say, fire has largely defaced rock paintings particularly when members of the apostolic faith gather inside caves during night prayers.
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